A day after winning the Republican nomination for the United States Senate, Tommy Tuberville said he would probably accept a debate with Senator Doug Jones, but did not say it was a sure thing.
“Maybe,” Tuberville told AL.com. “What we are seeing is as a team. I probably need to do it. But I’m not going to commit 100 percent until we see how things are going next month, month and a half. “
Tuberville said he needed to focus on raising money for the campaign. Jones, who was unopposed for the Democratic nomination, showed more than $ 8 million in campaign funds in his latest report. Tuberville’s latest report showed around $ 450,000.
When asked why he wouldn’t commit to a debate, Tuberville said, “Well, I’m not going to say 100%, but I said we probably will, nothing is certain. You have to wait and see what happens and in which direction the But there is a lot of water under the bridge from now until the next month and a half, two months, even before thinking of doing something. “
Lizzie Grams, Jones’ campaign press secretary, said in an email that Jones is “very open to debate.”
In an interview today on WVTM, Jones said he would not issue a challenge.
“We are ready to debate with anyone at any time,” Jones said. “I will not challenge anyone. Let’s talk about the problems. “
Tuberville easily defeated Jeff Sessions in Tuesday’s second round, receiving approximately 334,000 votes, or 61%, to 216,000, or 39%, for Sessions. Tuberville and Jones face off in the November 3 general election.
Tuberville declined to debate Sessions and avoided media interviews in the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s second round. His campaign spokesman offered to make the candidate available for a 10-minute phone interview today. AL.com asked him about various issues, including whether he supported the state mask order that Governor Kay Ivey issued today.
“I am not here for the government to tell us what to do,” said Tuberville. “I think we should wear masks. I think we should be socially responsible. I think we must understand that this is a very serious situation that we are in. Here in Lee County we are having a difficult time right now.
“But I don’t like the government telling us what we have to do. Surely for good, we can protect ourselves without the government dictating every move we make.
“Then, no, I am not required. But I’m about to wear masks. I think right now, at the time we’re in, if you’re around other people, it’s probably a good thing that you use them. But I am not for the government, I think that our government has gone overboard in all this pandemic because we do not know the facts. Every time you turn around you hear different doctors say different things. I just want to be allowed to determine our own destiny.
“But again, that’s when you’re alone. And if you’re around other people, I think it would be the right thing to do to wear a mask. “
The Tuberville campaign hosted a surveillance party Tuesday night at the Renaissance Hotel in Montgomery. There were temperature controls and mask requirements, and hand sanitizer was available. Tuberville was wearing a mask when he came to speak to supporters early in the evening.
A couple of hours later, with Tuberville’s overwhelming victory assured, he returned without a mask for his victory speech. Supporters gathered near the stage, few in masks. Tuberville stepped into the jubilant crowd to pose for photos and hugs, handshakes, and the five of them collide.
When asked why he did not consider the guidelines for social distancing and wearing a mask in a crowd, Tuberville said, “I put one on beforehand. I just didn’t wear one afterwards. That’s how it went. Again, I don’t want someone to tell me what to do. You had people up there who wanted to get autographs and take photos. There are probably times when we need to. At the time, he just wasn’t wearing a mask. “
In announcing the statewide mask order today, Ivey and state health officer Dr. Scott Harris cited an alarming increase in cases and hospitalizations in the past two weeks. Harris said COVID-19 hospitalizations are the highest since the pandemic began, and said 30 of the state’s hospitals are at or near capacity.
The governor said that voluntary compliance with the mask guidelines is not working.
“Friends, the numbers just don’t lie,” said Ivey.
Tuberville was asked if the state could reverse the increase in cases if others followed his example of wearing masks at times but ignoring the guidelines in crowds at others.
“We make good examples, but people make personal decisions in their lives,” said Tuberville. “Just like getting behind the wheel of a car. You take a chance every time you hit the highway. But for me, that is everyone’s choice. I don’t think it’s the government’s choice. But being personal, right now, I think in groups you should probably use one. Last night I wore one most of the night before we left, but didn’t wear one afterward. ”
Tuberville also answered a question about controversies over Confederate monuments.
The Montgomery County Board of Education voted Tuesday night to rename three high schools named after people associated with the Confederacy. The board must obtain exemptions from a state committee or pay a $ 25,000 fine to change the name of each school under the Memorial Preservation Act, passed by the Legislature in 2017 to protect Confederate monuments.
The cities of Birmingham and Mobile face fines of $ 25,000 for removing Confederate monuments in June because the Monument Preservation Act prohibits removing monuments on site for 40 years or more.
AL.com asked Tuberville if local school boards, city councils, and county commissions should have the authority to remove monuments and change the names of schools.
“I think it should be a community vote,” said Tuberville. “I don’t think you will leave it to three or four people. I think people should be able to vote, their community, whether they change something’s name or knock down a statue. That is theirs. Belongs to them. It does not belong to a couple, it belongs to everyone.
“And I think you should give everyone a chance to make that decision. We are a democracy And everyone should vote, not just a few. “
AL.com also asked Tuberville about the racial justice protests and calls for police reforms that have affected the nation since George Floyd’s police murder in Minnesota in May. Tuberville was asked if he believes there is systematic mistreatment of blacks by the police or if the problem is limited to isolated incidents.
Tuberville said the facts, not his opinion, are what’s important.
“You look at the facts,” he said. “If we have more, then I think we really have to see it. If whites are offended, blacks are offended, there is no difference. They are all Americans. “
The former coach said he does not take race into account in his dealings with people.
“I have been color blind all my life,” he said. “I have mainly trained minorities throughout my career. And I look at everyone as Americans. I don’t see it that way. And it is better that we move away from that or we are not going to survive as a country.
Tuberville said the former police officer charged with second-degree murder in George Floyd’s death was “totally wrong.”
“And unfortunately that happened. We should have had some peaceful protests, but I am not in favor of protests in which people tear other people’s property apart, beat the cops, and spiral out of control.
“This country was built on peaceful protests. We made a lot of progress in this country by protesting women’s right to vote, that sort of thing. Nothing is fixed when people go out and take the law into their own hands. “
Traveling through the state during the campaign, Tuberville said police chiefs and sheriffs told him that fewer people want to become law enforcement officers due to low wages and disrespect.
“Number one, they don’t make enough money,” said Tuberville. “They earn little more than welfare wages. Number two, the respect of our police and our officers is not even close. They do not receive the respect of the judges. They are used as pawns.
“And we have to support our police. If we lose, which in some cases we have had in the last two months, if we lose the security of our streets, our neighborhoods and our cities, this country will not survive. “
Tuberville said police officers, nurses and teachers are low-paid essential professionals.
“We have millions of dollars, billions of dollars going to people who are here illegally that we have to pay for,” said Tuberville. “But in reality, the people who make things more difficult and are the most important for this country in those areas, we cannot pay them, because we do not have money. This country is bankrupt.
“We have to find a way to get more money to those areas, increase their pay, pay them better … Because if we continue to fail in those areas, we will have a hard time getting to the point where we used to be in a democratic republic.”
AL.com asked the former Auburn coach about the likelihood of a college football season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Some major conferences have already announced that they will play only conference games this year, if at all. The Southeast Conference has not announced a decision.
“We have to be careful,” he said. “Everyone in this state wants to play, and I want to play. I’d hate to see a year go by that we didn’t have football in high school and college. That is what I have lived and died for years and years. And I would hate to see that. Now that I’m at the point where I can really enjoy watching other teams play, go to high school games, it’s amazing. “
But he said the most important consideration is to develop a plan that allows students and teachers to return to school safely.
“That’s the first priority for me, getting our kids back to the normal routine of going back to school,” said Tuberville. “The second would obviously be athletics. Athletics is what sets us apart from other countries in the world, as we have team sports at all ages that compete, they really learn a lot. And that’s a big part of our society. “
